Iroquois Middle School
NOVEMBER 2022 NEWSLETTER
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Iroquois Families:
The school year is in full swing, and students are actively involved in an engaging and enriching learning program here at Iroquois. I want to recognize and thank our incredibly talented teachers and staff who are working so hard to support our students—ensuring that all students have access to a rigorous curriculum as well as the social, emotional, and cognitive supports they need in order to be successful. In addition, I want to recognize our students who come to school every day ready to work hard and grow as learners.
In addition, over these last few weeks, teachers have begun to plan and implement a variety of interventions for students according to the Response to Intervention (RtI) framework. RtI is a school-wide, multi-tiered system of support in which we match targeted instruction with student strengths and needs. RtI is—at its core—a collaborative approach among teacher teams with the goal of helping all children grow and be successful throughout the year. This RtI process begins with high-quality instruction, feedback from teachers, and a set of universal-screening assessments. Teachers and students then set goals and monitor students’ progress toward those goals. Throughout the school year, children will engage in learning that is differentiated, aligned to individual strengths and needs and anchored in our state standards and district curricula.
Finally, I also want to communicate that Thursday, November 10, is a Conference Day. There will be no school for students on that day or Friday, Nov. 11 in honor of Veterans' Day. On Nov. 10th, our 5th- and 6th-grade teachers will spend the day engaged in professional development, while our 4th-grade teachers will be holding parent-teacher conferences. Your child’s teacher will communicate with you directly with more information regarding these conferences.
In closing, I wish each of you a very Happy Thanksgiving this month. I look forward to working with you throughout the year to support and celebrate your children’s continued success.
Sincerely,
Christian Zwahlen
Principal
IROQUOIS CONTACT INFORMATION
Principal: Mr. Christian Zwahlen | christian_zwahlen@westiron.monroe.edu
Secretary: Ms. Susan Glastonbury | susan_glastonbury@westiron.monroe.edu
Main office: 585-336-0804
Fax: 585-336-3042
Website: https://irq.westirondequoit.org/
Health Office: 585-336-3091
- Nurse: 585-336-0816
Transportation: 585-336-2992 | Transportation website
District Office: 585-342-5500 | District website: westirondequoit.org
UPCOMING EVENTS
NOVEMBER
- Nov 10: NO SCHOOL - Parent-Teacher Conference Day
- Nov 11: NO SCHOOL - VETERAN’S DAY
- Nov 15: School Picture Make Up Day
- Nov 23-25: NO SCHOOL - THANKSGIVING RECESS
- Nov 28: Book fair week
DECEMBER
- Dec 1: Book Fair Family Event
- Dec 13: 5th Gr Orchestra, 6th Gr Orchestra & 5th/6th Gr Chorus Concert @ IHS 7:00 p.m.
- Dec 19: 5th Gr Band & 6th Gr Band @ IHS 7:00 p.m.
- Dec 26-30: NO SCHOOL - HOLIDAY RECESS
JANUARY
- Jan 2: NO SCHOOL - HOLIDAY RECESS
- Jan 3: School Resumes
- Jan 16: NO SCHOOL - MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY
- Jan 20: PTSA - 5th Grade Movie Night @ Irondequoit High School (DATE CHANGE)
- Jan 23-27: Great Kindness Challenge
- Jan 27: PTSA - 4th Grade Bingo 7:00 p.m. (DATE CHANGE)
READING INSTRUCTION IS SYSTEMATIC, COMPREHENSIVE
To foster strong foundational literacy skills is critical in the West Irondequoit K-6 instructional program. Our goal continues to be equitable access for all students to instruction that is rooted in the science of reading.
Our program is designed to engage students systematically and comprehensively in instruction that adheres to the Simple View of Reading. That formula articulates that, in order to truly be a reader, it is essential to be able to recognize words and understand language; if a student is missing either component, they will not be able to read effectively.
At the K-2 level, our approach is to provide systematic literacy instruction to develop word recognition skills. That is implemented alongside our locally developed standards-aligned humanities curriculum, which supports language comprehension. At the K-2 level, mastering foundational literacy skills is so essential and requires specific and exact instruction, so we adopted a new literacy resource called CKLA Skills Strand (version 2.0). Delivered during a 40-minute block, teachers provide students with the science-based literacy instruction they need. The humanities curriculum complements this learning by engaging all students in grade-level and beyond learning around comprehension, social studies, vocabulary, speaking, listening, and writing projects.
At third and fourth grade, as we slowly shift the focus from “learning to read” to “reading to learn,” we continue to apply the Simple View of Reading to our humanities curriculum. Alongside the language development and social studies content learning supported by the humanities curriculum, teachers use a variety of tools to support phonics instruction, including a newly adopted program, Amplify Reading and Skills Boost. Students read rich texts that will build language and vocabulary, as well as reinforce foundational literacy skills.
At fifth and sixth grade, the humanities curriculum focuses on deepening students reading comprehension skills, writing skills, speaking and listening skills, and social studies conceptual understanding. Foundational literacy skills are reinforced through vocabulary and other reading instruction, as well as through intervention. Our goal is to solidify foundational skills at the early elementary level, so that in later elementary grades, students can focus on critical thinking and extension.
SEL SPOT (SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING)
FROM THE SCHOOL NURSE
Personal Hygiene
Parents, please have ongoing conversations with your children about proper hygiene. The frequency of showering and washing their hair and bodies appropriately and the use of deodorant.
Outside Recess
Students will continue to go outside for recess and PE if the outside temperature is above 39 degrees. Please ensure that students are appropriately dressed for outside play.
Updated Physicals
If your child has a physical from their pediatrician, please send in a copy with an updated immunization record.
Reporting absences, late arrivals and early dismissals
As a reminder please call (336-3091) or email the health office (jill_bellanca@westiron.monroe.edu) each day your child will not be in school, arrive late or must leave early.
4th GRADE FIELD TRIP
HELMER NATURE CENTER
5th GRADE FIELD TRIP
SENECA POND
THANKSGIVING FOOD DRIVE FOR THE IRONDEQUOIT COMMUNITY CUPBOARD
Iroquois School Service Club will be collecting donations for the Irondequoit Community Cupboard
Monday, October 31st through Friday, November 11th!
Please consider donating some of the following items:
- Canned meals (stew, pasta, hash, and chili)
- Condensed soups (chicken noodle, vegetable, cream of mushroom, cream of chicken)
- Progresso and chunky style soups
- Canned fruit in its own juices
- Crushed tomatoes and pasta sauce
- Mashed potatoes/scalloped potatoes
- Rice (white, brown and flavored)
- Macaroni and cheese
- Oatmeal (instant and old fashioned)
- Coffee (both regular and instant)
- Peanut butter (and Jif to go) & Jelly (grape and strawberry)
- 100% juice boxes
- Granola bars (chewy and crunchy but not with whole nuts)
- Dog food
Donation boxes are in the Main Office
EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION
Parents/guardians,
Do you:
Have a new cell phone number or email address?
Have a new work phone number?
Need to update your emergency contacts?
Be sure to keep your child's school informed of any changes to your phone numbers or emergency contact information. Update info directly parent portal or send in a note with your child. Thank you!